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This article was published 06/04/2010 (5937 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Are you in the mood to giggle, but don’t want to do it alone? Maybe you should head to the local pet store and hang out with the rats. According to a Bowling Green State University study, rats laugh.

This doesn’t mean that you can tell your pet rat your best knock-knock joke and watch him fall down laughing. Instead, if you want to put your rat in the right mood, tickle him.

We humans experience breathy outbursts as we laugh. The study reveals that rats are quiet laughers. Their sounds are akin to chirping. These sounds were previously misunderstood. Researchers viewed chirping as signs of distress, aggression or sexual excitement. It doesn’t say much about rats’ mating rituals, not that rodents need help in this department.

I’ve never had a pet rat, so I can’t report if the study is correct. Actually, this isn’t entirely true. Our family housed a rat by accident when we lived in Brandon. After Halloween, my mother put our candy in the garage to dissuade us from gorging on the sweet treats. It worked. We forgot about the candy.

Weeks later, my mom went to use our car, but it wouldn’t start. When she opened the hood to locate the problem, she noticed the carburetor lid was littered with fluffy white stuff and candy wrappers. My mom realized that it had to have been a wild female rat. The mother rat must have built a nest and used our treats to nourish her litter.

No rodents were injured. The mother was gone and babies had followed. Stealing my candy wasn’t the only liberty this rat took with our property. In the summer, my sister unfurled our sleeping bag. The stuffing had been ripped out. To this day, whenever I see a sleeping bag I can’t help think about that ingenious, but lucky, mother rat.

Like other exotic pets, rats aren’t for everyone. But now that you know they laugh, you might be encouraged to head out to get one. Before you do, there are things you should know about rat care.

Unfortunately for owners, rats usually live between two and three years. This is the hardest part of pet ownership no matter what type of animal you choose.

It’s recommended that owners buy or adopt two rats of the same sex at the same time. Because rats are social creatures, they fare better when they live in pairs. No larger cage would be required and little extra care would be necessary.

As you likely know, rats are prolific breeders. While intact rats usually reach maturity by six to eight weeks, it’s not unknown for maturity to be reached earlier. For this reason, separating opposite genders early is a good idea. Female rats go into heat once every four to five days and no social mores dissuade them from mating with family members.

As with many pets, spaying or neutering may offer health benefits to rats. Male hormones have been known to cause aggressive behaviours. Also, like male cats and dogs, they tend to scent mark. Neutering dampens these unwanted activities.

Females are prone to tumours. Some rat experts feel spaying may lessen this likelihood.

According to Pet Rats Canada, the cage choice is vital. When the bottom of the cage is metal, it’s hard on its feet. These cages have been known to cause injury. Rats are susceptible to respiratory infections, so cage bedding is important. They require bedding that is neither dusty nor toxic. Litter exists, but some owners still use newspaper or wood shavings. However, caution should be taken with wood shavings; they may exude oils. These oils are not well tolerated by rats. Maple and ash are good choices.

Unlike what some assume, many rats like to be handled. As I scanned rat-lover webpages and chat rooms, I noted one rat lover’s advice. She went into full details on how to snuggle with your rat and even kiss its belly. After reading three paragraphs on her descriptions, I felt like I’d wandered onto some adult website.

Getting a rat shouldn’t be done impulsively. They’re not entry-level pets meant to serve as a test to determine whether your child can handle real pet responsibility. Before you set out to get your own laughing rat, do your research. Check out the Winnipeg Humane Society. They have a small pets section that may have rats for adoption. If you have any plans to move to Alberta, don’t buy a rat; Alberta bans them.

Rat owners may not hear their pets laugh, but they certainly make owners happy. But just to be on the safe side, lock up your candy.

char.adam@mts.net twitter.com/charspetpage

 

PET CALENDAR:

FRIDAY, APRIL 23 — THE CAT & THE KING

A Tribute to the Music of Tom Jones and Elvis, starring Daylin James

Garden City Inn, 2100 McPhillips — The Ambassador Banquet and Conference Centre, 8 p.m.

Tickets $25, includes the show, silent auction and late-night snack buffet. Contact Donna at 339-6025 or donna@fffas.com or visit our website www.fffas.com

 

PET LOVERS RECIPE BOOKS — MIXING BOWLS

are now available at most Veterinary Offices or by emailing: ffasfriendsfundraising@gmail.com. Proceeds help Friends Fundraising support over 12 no-kill animal shelters in Manitoba by assisting with medical expenses, including D’Arcy’s A.R.C., Craig Street Cats, Hi-Speed Hounds, Winnipeg Pet Rescue, Loving the Feral Soul, and Winnipeg Boxer Rescue.

 

KILCONA PARK DOG CLUB: KILCONA PARK CLEANUP DAY SCHEDULED

The Kilcona Park Dog Club (KPDC) is holding its annual park cleanup day on Saturday, April 10 between 9 a.m. and noon. Volunteers should come dressed for work and bring garbage bags, shovels, rakes and/or scoopers. Meet us at the parking lot off Hwy 59 at 9 a.m. For more information, contact: Maureen Heide, mojo564@mts.net or Tony Zerucha, zerucha@hotmail.com, 471-8297, 669-1220, or 444-4119 or Wayne L. Esperance 803-4727

 

IN THE PET COMMUNITY:

Join me at The Winnipeg Humane Society’s Viva Paws Vegas at the Fairmont Winnipeg, April 8, 5 p.m.-8 p.m.

Win a chance to have your pet’s story in the pet page.

For further information or tickets, call 982-2041.